The U.S. says there is a role for
both India and Pakistan inside Afghanistan. By the way, Pakistan is
still supporting militancy in Indian-held Kashmir.
And major private security firms have agreed to and signed a code of conduct. Will it make a difference? Is it sincere or PR?
Afghanistan:
According to a Afghan
poll partly-funded by the U.S., opposition to the insurgency is up along with a desire to talk peace with the insurgency.
According to ISAF figures, insurgents killed over 100 civilians in the last month. A district chief of the government was killed in an IED attack in the Haqqani-stronghold of Paktia province.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has invited Pakistani Prime-Minister Yousuf Gilani to visit Kabul. It will be the Prime-Minister's first visit.
The Afghan government is shutting down the operations of over a hundred air groups who allegedly forgot to submit reports on their plans and finances.
Canada may extend its presencein Afghanistan by switching from a combat-role to a support-role.
A plane to Saudi Arabia was turned back to Kabul Airport were several insurgents were detained. The militants were thought to be heading to Saudi Arabia to try raising funds.
Federally-Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan:
Since land-lines had been widely suspended in North Waziristan(except by use by the army, paramilitary forces, and people of influence) over the last four months, cellphones have begun to become extremely common. What's even more significant about this is that the cellphone service is being provided solely by an Indian company. Given this report came from the Pakistani media there was plenty of concern noted.
South Waziristan's western half could be becoming more affected by anti-Pakistan elements. A report suggests that some local militant groups have joined the insurgency against Pakistan. The western part of South Waziristan, where the main town of Wana is situated, is under the influence of Ahmadzai Waziri Taliban leader Mullah Nazir who is a sometimes-rival, sometimes-supporter of Mehsud Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. Leading up to the Pakistani military operation launched last year against the Mehsud-strongholds in South Waziristan, Nazir had struck a deal with the Pakistani army to allow their forces to move through his territory. Mullah Nazir is focused on Afghanistan while Mehsud and the "Pakistani-Taliban" are focused against the Pakistani state.
Pakistan claims to have killed over a dozen militants in the central-FATA agency of Orakzai during another air raid.
Three more schools bombed in the Mohmand tribal agency, bringing the total since 2007 to 65.
Pakistan:
Another NATO tanker was destroyed in Balochistan province.
Former President, General, and dictator Pervez Musharraf get fiesty after Bush faults Pakistan for extremism.
By the way, Pakistan is still supporting militancy in Indian-held Kashmir.
Maps:
When considering the situation in Pashtunistan, consider these maps of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is in the Pashtun areas where the U.S. and NATO have the most problems. It's important to note that while Pashtuns make up a much larger proportion of the population of Afghanistan than they do in Pakistan, there are still more Pashtuns in Pakistan than in Afghanistan. Here is a good map and rundown of the areas that make up the main warzone.